Button must prove he is a worthy world champion: Watson

London, Oct 15 (ANI): Former Formula One driver John Watson has said that champion driver Jenson Button must win the title race in Brazil on Sunday or risk his season going up in smoke.

Button, 29, needs to finish only third to clinch his first championship. Button heads into the Sao Paulo showdown 14 points ahead of Brawn GP teammate Rubens Barrichello, with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel just two points further back.

That means a podium finish would end the challenge of local hero Barrichello and German prospect Vettel.

Watson has been more impressed with the way Hamilton, 24, has battled back from a dreadful start, while Button has gone eight races without a win.

"Jenson needs to lock out the world championship this weekend. But this is not a new situation for him this season. It is what he has been trying to do for the last four or five races," The Sun quoted Watson, as saying.

"Jenson must prove he is a worthy world champion. He may not have the fastest car but he has got to pull out the performance of a champion. What Lewis has done this year is more outstanding in many respects than what he has achieved beforehand. In the first two years he had the quickest car in the field.

"This year he was given a car that was not competitive but he has improved its performance by a huge margin. He has been outscoring everybody in the last few races. That makes a proper champion!" he said. (ANI)